Saturday, May 30, 2009

While I'm all for laying out a blanket on the lawn, gathering together with the kiddos and eating big slices of watermelon, sandwiches, chips and drinking Capri Suns, my husband is...well, not so much for it.

He is much more fond of actually sitting at a table to dine!

Go figure.

I've been asking my resident carpenter for several months now to build us a new picnic table. Just a simple one - planks of wood for the top and crossed legs for the base and the benches.

(This is a very big deal because my husband's one complaint is that I almost never have plans for what I want him to build. Ok, "almost never" is giving myself entirely too much credit. 99.9% of the time, I give him a picture from a magazine or a drawing that I've made with rough measurements. I leave all of the "planning" to him! He's not so fond of that...)

So, the way I see it, it's a win-win for everyone!

I get the table I want and he gets to build it with plans that someone else has already made!

Here are a few pictures that I am going to use to convince him:

This first one being my favorite...

Even Pottery Barn has their own version of a simple, plank top, crossed leg picnic table...

To dress it up a bit, all you need is some fabric to drape over the sides...

So pretty!

I LOVE the casual, relaxed feel of this style of picnic table.

It seems to carry with it a sense of age and history.

It's rustic and charming and can take on the exact look you're going for by washing it with a coat or two of stain or paint. Or simply, let it age naturally.It screams low maintenance, which I will admit, is undeniably appealing!

And just in case I wasn't convinced enough that this was the style of table that I wanted for our backyard...

Just as I was about to load up the kids and head to the grocery store this morning, I got a phone call from my mother-in-law. She said she had two magazines for me that she was going to leave on the table on my front porch - Country Living and Coastal Living.

Awesome! My favorite!

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the cover of the June issue of Coastal Living...

12 comments:

I just breezed through a local garage sale today. Must be a picnic table kinda day for a few of us. They had a miniature one that would have made a PERFECT coffee table!!!! Distressed antique white. I WANT it and it wasn't for sale! Bleah!!!!

One detrement I don't care for on wood picnic tables is having to move the thing when you mow the lawn. For that reason alone, I like my patio set. Only because I have to do all the work around here of course...

Do you have a truck? You can find picnic tables all over the place that are tired. Powerwash a used one down, slap a coat of paint or 3 and there you have it! And generally cheaper than one you build yourself.

What an inspiring post! My hubby used to want a picnic table in the house for a dining table. I used to think he was nuts. Now I see he had a really great idea. Too bad we never did it. Thanks for posting about the free plans too!!

So...you have inspired me to go find a picnic table and paint it turquoise blue and distress it~love the picture of that one! So pretty! Can't wait to see how it all turns out for you. I saw your post (I am a folower)love your blog~wanted to make sure I invited you to my blog and see the giveaway going on. It has 2 very cute and Whimsy items up for grabs!

Karla, you sound so like me when I am trying to convince DH to do something for me. It's wonderful that your DH can build it. Mine, not at all. He can do a little electical, but give him a hammer or a saw and it is always a disaster. I usually do those kinds of things. Love the bench and can't wait to see yours. Hugs, Marty

Donna - I've been searching Craigslist for a while now trying to find one, but it would have to be REALLY cheap for my husband to let me buy it...you know, since he can build it himself, he would rather got that route instead of just handing over cash for an old picnic table. But I agree, there are lots of good one's out there looking for new homes!

Miss(es) Canadian Pie - you'll have to show him the picture of the picnic table inside! That IS a really great idea! :)

Victoria - thanks! I'll have to check out your blog!

Marty - too bad we don't live closer to each other! I have some electrical projects I would like to get done, but my carpenter doesn't do electrical! :) Our husbands could make a good team!

Amanda - I'm not certain which color I will paint it yet...and it will be on the deck, in our backyard. I'm thinking a bright color to cheer up our dreary, rainy months! :)

I have an old tired picnic table that looks fab when I put a tablecloth over it. I've been considering power washign it and painting it white so it looks pretty all the time. I hope you get your picnic table!